10 facts about Vladimir Putin

President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin briefly shook hands Thursday at a welcome ceremony for G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. The G-20 is taking place amid severe tensions between Obama and Putin over Syria. Here are 10 facts about Putin:

1 Got his political start in modern day St. Petersburg, his hometown, where he started out as the advisor on international affairs to the mayor. In St. Petersburg he rose through the ranks and in influence, though remaining in background. He later moved to Moscow, continuing in politics until he eventually rose to become the director of the Federal Security Service. From there he eventually became prime minister and then acting president.

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Obama greets Putin at G-20

2. Helped out fighting wildfires. In 2010, according to The Moscow Times, Putin took the co-pilot’s seat on a firefighting plane, held the throttle and pushed the button that would dump 24 tons of water on the forest fire. Putin doesn’t have any known pilot training but has sat in the co-pilot’s’ seat before at an air show

3. Sang “Blueberry Hill” with a jazz orchestra at a charity function in 2010. He also played a Russian song “Where the Motherland Begins” on the piano. He received a standing ovation from the crowd, The Moscow News reported.

4. In 2008 was credited with saving a television crew from a tiger attack at a national park when observing how researches monitor the animals in the wild, by shooting the approaching beast with a tranquilizer gun. He then helped measure the tiger’s incisors and placed a transmitter around its neck. Putin later admitted, however, that this act, as well as a few other of his wildlife exploits, were staged to help highlight some endangered species.

5. Reruited by and joined the KGB in 1975 after graduating from Leningrad State University (now known as St. Petersburg State University), and remained in the spy organization until 1991 when he began his political career.

6. His mother was a factory worker and his father was drafted into the navy, where he served on a submarine fleet. His paternal grandfather was a cook, and at one point worked at one of Joseph Stalin’s dachas.

7. Favorite sport is Judo and he has had a black belt in it since he was 18. He also practiced sambo, a Russian wrestling technique.

8. Fluent in German, but refrains from speaking English, which he is not as comfortable with.